Capt. Michael Penland, right, receives a plaque from Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott at Penland's retirement ceremony last week after 27 years with the sheriff's office.

Written by

Dan Holtmeyer
DHOLTMEYER@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A 27-year career with the Greene County Sheriff's Office gave Capt. Michael Penland enough time to meet four presidents, get in a tense 14-minute standoff with two men wielding a hatchet, pulverize two of his vertebrae and nearly get hit by a plane.

His patrol career drew to a close a week ago, when Penland retired. Even with a three-decade run under three different sheriffs, he said Wednesday, the end came sooner than he wanted.

"It was tough," Penland said. "I mean, Friday was very emotional. But I had an amazing run." ...